The federal parliament is set to pass the news bargaining incentive bill on 12 August 2026 after Labor and the Coalition struck a deal that will require technology companies to sign a minimum of eight agreements with news publishers, up from six, and to direct 5% of resulting funds to the Australian Associated Press newswire. Separately, Australia joined more than 30 countries overnight in condemning Iran's use of capital punishment against protesters, and thousands of students are expected to rally against One Nation leader Pauline Hanson in cities and towns across the country.
The news bargaining incentive, introduced into parliament on 12 August 2026, is intended to compel platforms such as Facebook and TikTok to compensate media outlets for the commercial value they draw from news content shared on their services.
What changes has the government made to the bill?
Following negotiation with the opposition, Labor agreed to raise the minimum number of publisher deals tech companies must make from six to eight. The scheme has also been redesigned so that big platforms can offset no more than 25% of their levy exposure through any single agreement, a mechanism intended to push companies toward striking deals with a broader spread of outlets rather than concentrating payments with one or two large publishers. An additional 5% of the funds generated will be set aside specifically for the AAP newswire service.
Communications minister Anika Wells framed the legislation as a win for the journalism sector, saying:
“The Albanese government is delivering for journalists and ensuring they get their fair share from digital platforms that benefit from Australian news.”
Assistant treasurer Daniel Mulino described the reform as a milestone for the industry, stating:
“We want to see deals between digital platforms and a diverse range of media organisations to ensure fair recompense for the use of content.”
Why has Australia condemned Iran's use of the death penalty?
Australia joined a coalition of more than 30 nations — including France, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, Italy and Germany — along with the European Union's top diplomat, in a joint statement accusing Iran of executing protesters to suppress dissent. The statement said the countries:
“condemn in the strongest terms the ongoing executions of protesters and use of the death penalty”
by the Islamic Republic, adding that:
“The use of capital punishment to silence dissent, intimidate communities and punish individuals exercising their human rights can never be justified.”
The signatories called on Iran to immediately halt executions and free those they described as arbitrarily detained. According to the United Nations, at least 56 people have been executed on national security-related charges since 19 March 2026, including 27 in cases connected to the protests, with the UN and human rights groups warning of forced confessions and a lack of fair trials.
Who is organising the protests against Pauline Hanson?
Students Say No to Pauline Hanson rallies are being organised in major cities and towns, with the National Union of Students distributing flyers urging attendees to “fight against racism” and “stand up against the far right.” Australian National University student Yerin Park, who is coordinating the Canberra demonstration, said:
“I'm hoping this will be the start of a real kind of movement. We want to make sure we lay the best basis for … an anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-bigot response in Australia.”
Union general secretary Akash Nagarajan pointed to Hanson's record of opposing measures such as free TAFE and increased public school funding, saying:
“Pauline Hanson actually doesn't stand for things that benefit students' lives … [and] a lot of students are galvanised by that.”
The protests follow Hanson's June 2026 National Press Club address calling for a monocultural Australia, and her subsequent appearance on a podcast hosted by British far-right activist and convicted criminal Tommy Robinson during a trip to the UK. Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, One Nation's sole member in the Victorian parliament, defended the right to protest but questioned the movement's organisers, telling reporters:
“Students really should be focusing on academics and I think the Socialist party getting involved with students is the wrong way to go.”
What else is happening in parliament today?
Beyond the news bargaining bill, question time on 12 August 2026 has been dominated by a separate controversy, with the Coalition demanding the Australian Federal Police examine leaked correspondence relating to a “melon gaffe” involving the prime minister, according to a national broadcaster's live coverage. In the Senate, the Greens moved an urgent motion calling on the government to introduce a 25% tax on gas exports, the same coverage reports.
Separately, Labor and the Greens twice blocked debate on a proposed “widow tax” in the Senate on 12 August 2026, with votes recorded at 37–25 and 34–24, according to One News Australia. The Coalition has also unveiled housing policies linking net overseas migration levels to housing completion rates and proposing changes to the National Construction Code, a push that reportedly featured heavily in the opposition's question-time strategy alongside calls to sharply cut migration.
What happens next?
The House of Representatives remains in session as of 12 August 2026, with parliamentary proceedings continuing to be broadcast live. Presenter Patricia Karvelas is reported to be in Canberra for further interviews with MPs including Barnaby Joyce, Clare O'Neil, Andrew Bragg, Zali Steggall, Peter Khalil and Zoe McKenzie, with additional political coverage scheduled later on Wednesday 12 August 2026.
Key Facts
- The news bargaining incentive bill requires tech platforms to strike at least eight deals with news publishers, up from six, with no single deal offsetting more than 25% of levy exposure.
- 5% of funds generated under the scheme will go to the AAP newswire.
- Australia joined over 30 nations condemning Iran's executions of protesters; the UN says at least 56 people have been executed on security-related charges since 19 March 2026.
- Student rallies against Pauline Hanson are planned in major cities, organised partly by the National Union of Students.
- The Greens have moved for a 25% gas export tax in the Senate, while Labor and the Greens blocked “widow tax” debate twice by votes of 37–25 and 34–24.
